Monday, November 19, 2012

So I am on assignment Saturday night in my hometown of Independence,
MO, on the town square for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree whistlestop event,
on the tree’s way to DC. The drivers of the Mack trucks pulling the Christmas
tree really wanted to see the Truman
Home.

Land Line Editor-in-Chief
Sandi Soendker and U.S. CapitolChristmas Tree drivers, OOIDA Life Member andformer
U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (left), and DuaneBrusseau (right) at the
Truman Home.

Independence is my hometown, and I live there still. I knew
it was too far for a quick walk, so I thumbed at my car, parked just across the
street. They accepted and I drove them to a place I know well.

The big white home at 219 Delaware St. is timeless and
unpretentious yet elegant. It’s kept spotless and looks like Harry and Bess
just walked out. It’s tended to and guarded by the National Park Service. It
was about 4 p.m., the gates were locked, and the park rangers were closing down
for the day. We parked and got out anyway.

Me to the rangers: “Locked? oh man. Can’t you make an
exception? These guys are the drivers of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree; they
are parked up on the square for tonight’s event.”

We asked if we could just get a photo of them on the porch.

Ranger looks at the truck drivers: “Sorry.”

Me to rangers: “Would it make a difference if I said this
guy is a former United States Senator?”

I wasn’t bluffing; he really was. He also happens to be an
OOIDA Life Member, CDL holder and, on this U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree journey,
one of the two truck drivers.

Ranger looks at the guy, kinda checks out his faded jeans
and long thick gray hair, pulled through the back of his Mack Truck cap.

Ranger: “Sorry.”

The driver hesitates to play this card, but says: “I do have
a permanent U.S. Senate ID …”

He goes through his wallet and produces the ID. The ranger
looks at it and decides to talk to the other ranger. He comes back shortly.

Ranger: “Let me see that ID again.”

The driver has already put it away, so he gets his wallet
out again and shuffles through his collections of laminated IDs.

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